Mission:Dignity Staff Biographies
GuideStone Financial Resources is pleased to provide the biographies of its key executives. To use biographies and photos in editorial placement, you must obtain written permission. Please direct all requests to Curtis D. Sharp, Officer for Denominational and Public Relations, by phone at 1-214-720-2127 or by email. Staff photos can be downloaded from our Press Kit section of the web site.
For additional staff biographies, visit GuideStone's respective product sites: Retirement, Insurance, Investments, and Capital Management.
O.S. Hawkins
President - Chief Executive Officer
O. S. Hawkins came to GuideStone Financial Resources in 1997 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his tenure at GuideStone, he served as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas (1993-1997) and Pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for 15 years (1978-1993).
Hawkins earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He also has graduate degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary as well as several honorary doctoral degrees.
He has been married to his wife Susie since 1970, and they have two daughters, Wendy and Holly; two sons-in-law, Brian and David; and four grandchildren. Hawkins was named Clergyman of the Year by the Religious Heritage of America in 1993 and is the author of more than 20 books.
John Ambra
Director of Development
Mr. Ambra has served with GuideStone since September 1996. He directs the Mission:Dignity ministry and assists donors with current and deferred gift planning options. He is a frequent conference leader at senior adult events sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources and leads personal and estate planning conferences for churches and senior adult groups.
Before coming to GuideStone, Mr. Ambra was the Business Manager for the Baptist Convention of New England from 1990 through 1996. Before that he was involved in private industry accounting and computer operations for 12 years.
Mr. Ambra has a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and a master of divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ernest B. Myers Jr., Ph.D.
Director of Planned Giving and Denominational Relations
Ernest Myers joined GuideStone Financial Resources in October 2007 as Director of Planned Giving and Denominational Relations with a focus on major and endowed gifts.
He has more than 34 years of ministry experience including 12 years as a senior pastor to congregations in Reno, Nevada and Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada and over 11 years as a church planter and strategy coordinator with The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, serving in Central America and South Asia. Most recently, he worked as a Senior Executive Capital Stewardship Consultant with RSI (Resource Services, Inc.).
Dr. Myers received a B.A. degree from Mississippi College and his M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from the California Graduate School of Theology and has served as a college and seminary lecturer in Canada, England, The Netherlands, Singapore and India.